About Monastery Icons

The
Monastery Icons collection of sacred art is a unique, modern testimony to the
timeless ancient, classical tradition of Christian iconography. These
"Windows Into Heaven" with their bright, rich colors and English text are
treasured in thousands of churches, schools and homes throughout North
America.

Our broad selection of sacred and liturgical arts includes holy gifts for
every occasion, church banners, sacred art to commemorate your special
events, and Monastery Incense, the most popular liturgical incense in
America. This unique incense formula was created as an alternative to the
mediocre incense that has been at the heart of so many parishes' "incense
problem." And we are glad to say that according to our customers, Monastery
Incense has solved the problem!

Sacred Arts Foundation is a non-profit foundation created to strengthen
faith and encourage Christian devotion in churches, schools, and
individuals through a ministry of traditional Christian art. As the
contemporary iconographer Photios Kontoglou expressed so well, "Icons raise
the soul and mind to the realm of the spirit." Our foundation is a cooperative effort of artisans and craftsmen throughout the United States and the world who strive to make our Monastery Icons products the highest quality available.

We thank you for offering us the opportunity to share with you the inspiring
beauty of sacred icons, and through our art and incense to contribute to the
spiritual life of your parish and home.

Testimonials

Over the past twenty-seven years the Monastery Icons collection has become the most beloved traditional sacred art in America, displayed in thousands of churches, schools, and homes throughout the country. Here what our customers have to say:

Seeing your icons is like seeing the face of a friend
“I have admired Monastery Icons for years. I really like to see someone making an effort to bring more traditional Christian art to Catholic parishes. I saw your icon banners at a church on Mackinac Island and recognized them immediately. It was like seeing the face of a friend!”
Ardella C., Pennsylvania

A joy to behold and an invaluable aid in encouraging holiness“How extraordinarily beautiful your icons are – and how my people love them! They are a joy to behold and an invaluable aid in encouraging holiness. These are images that bring you closer to Christ and His saints. The use of these icons has increased my parishioners' devotional life at home.”
Father David, Washington

The best selection of icons
“This was the best selection of icons that we found. We got the icon we wanted, in a style that was our preference and was affordable.”
Elizabeth H., North Carolina

Your icons exceeded our most optimistic expectation
“We are delighted with our five-foot icons from Monastery Icons! The colors exceed even my most optimistic expectation. Every who has been into our chapel since the icons were hung has remarked on their beauty, their richness as a source for meditation, and on their enhancement of the worship space.”
George M., Massachusetts

At last – a gift of substance!“The fifty catechists in our church were thrilled to receive my gift to each of them of your icon of Saint Cecilia. This was especially true of those preparing the children for First Communion. At last – a gift of substance! Thank you!”
Tim C., St. Anthony’s Church, Ohio

A crucifix that truly lifts our minds and hearts to God
“Your crucifix that graces our worship space continually evokes comments like ‘That beautiful cross has helped me to pray more deeply at Mass.’ ‘Every time I pray before this cross I see something new in its story.’ What a joy to have such beautiful religious art to help us all ‘lift up our mind and heart to God!”
Fr. James S., Iowa

Monastery Icons sets the right atmosphere
“We have many icons from you in our hermitage and enjoy them very much. They help to set the right atmosphere for our home.”
Our Lady of Grace Hermitage, Texas

Our chapel now has a unique peace and beauty“We completed the amazing transformation of our chapel with 14 five-foot icons from Monastery Icons that pictorially guide the viewer through Christ’s earthly journey. While being totally sensitive and true to all symbolic detail, these distinctive icons are nonetheless quite unique in that they feature bright, modern interpretations with traditional colors....Our chapel now has a unique peace and beauty about it which is conducive to prayer and contemplation.”
Sister Theodosia, St. Joseph’s Home, Saskatchewan

A wonderful solution to our giftgiving problem“Monastery Icons has been a wonderful solution to our school’s Christmas ‘giftgiving problem.’ Our children are very receptive to religious education and used to iconography, so an icon is the perfect choice for a holiday gift of a religious nature.
”The children love their icons and the parents have also expressed their appreciation. Many children have even used the icons to create an icon corner at home. Giving Monastery Icons at Christmastime has become an annual tradition at our school.
“One boy told me: ‘When I opened up my gift, the beautiful icon of the Holy Family reminded me of the true meaning of Christmas – to be with your family and those you love, not just getting gifts.’”
Sister Vladimyra, Assumption Schooll, New Jersey

An excellent portrayal of our founder“You have created a striking and excellent portrayal of our founder, Saint John Baptiste de La Salle. It was received with acclamation by the Brothers at the Assembly for our 150th anniversary year. I hope and pray that this icon of this Patron Saint of eachers will find its place in the many faculty rooms of Catholic schools through the country and world.”
Brother Robert M., Christian Brothers, Rhode Island

Heaven in my home!“Throughout my home I display a number of your icons. All who visit me remark of their beauty and how they contribute to the sense of peace and holiness they encounter when entering my home. A visiting friend recently told me that being surrounded by your icons was like standing on the threshold of heaven!”
John A., Massachusetts

Monastery Icons on the Web

Monastery Icons has added a few pages on the web to make it easier for surfers to find us, and to be of use to those who love sacred art:

The Monastery Icons Blog
We have now begun the official Monastery Icons Blog, so that MonasteryIcons.com visitors can visit and find out the latest news about products, specials, and the stories behind the icons featured at Monastery Icons. And readers can subscribe to the Blog feed, so that they can have Monastery Icons news sent to their home computer as soon as it is posted on the blog

Monastery Icons on YouTube
We added our video on "How to Paint an Icon" to YouTube, so that bloggers can add the video to their blogs and other websites, in order to inform and entertain their readers.

Look at Monastery Icons on Flickr
For those who would like to see our icons at a larger size, we have begun uploading some of our icons to our Monastery Icons Flickr account.

Monastery Icons on MySpace?
Though MySpace is usually thought of a site for socializing and fun, many businesses are adding their profiles to MySpace. Take a look at the Monastery Icons MySpace page.

Helpful Websites on Iconography and Sacred Art

The web is full of information on icons and iconography. Below is a collection of pages we have found useful, and which show the range of styles in which icons can be painted.

Squidoo: How to Paint an Icon
A fan of Monastery Icons has created some Squidoo "lenses" on icons and sacred art, using some of the information which he found on MonasteryIcons.com. His page entitled "How to Paint an Icon – Learn Byzantine Iconography" has much useful information, including some helpful links. He also has a page on "The San Damiano Cross" which readers will find educational.

Iconofile.com
This comprehensive site on iconography has an enormous amount of information and resources for practicing iconographers and artists, plus those who want to make a more in-depth study of the techniques involved in many aspects of sacred art. It includes listings for those who provide materials and services in the realm of iconography, including a page for Monastery Icons.

Far from being only an ancient art, you can see from these links that iconography is alive and well. Visit a contemporary icon painting studio in Serbia to understand how monasteries support themselves and beautify churches and homes through continuing this traditional Christian art form.

This is only a beginning of what can be found on the web. And for those wishing to do more research on iconography, we recommend starting with the books that can be found at MonasteryIcons.com.